State v. Watson

TERNUS, Justice.

The defendant, Nathan Watson, was convicted of murdering his father. On appeal, he claims that the trial court should have sua sponte held a hearing on whether his trial counsel suffered from a conflict of interest based on counsel’s dual representation of the defendant and a key prosecution witness. We agree that such a hearing was required under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Therefore, we reverse and remand.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

At the time of the events giving rise to Watson’s conviction, Watson lived with his father, Rocky Chase, in a…